A WILDLIFE catastrophe was averted in the River Ebbw at Newport yesterday.

Water flow in the river was restricted by a blockage at Tredegar Park, putting hundreds of fish at risk.

Natural Resources Wales responded to a call froma concerned office worker who had spotted some dead trout and large numbers of fish and eels struggling in small pools of water.

Officers noticed rubbish, vegetation and other debris had almost completely blocked a trash screen at the scene, restricting water flow to approximately 2.5 km of the stream on the other side.

They cleared the screen to restore the river flow to save the surviving fish, which were starved of oxygen.

A fish rescue was not required and the fish were able to recover in the restored water flow.

Rachelle Trubey, from Natural Resources Wales said: “The stormy weather and the intense rainfall over the last 48 hours had washed a lot of debris down the river and nearly completed blocked the trash screen.

“If left unattended, hundreds of fish and eels could have died as a result and other wildlife, which depend on the stream, could also have been affected, she said.

Anyone who spots signs of fish in distress, or signs of pollution, should report it immediately to the Natural Resources Wales incident hotline on 0800 807060.